Doubts About the SAT

A new twist has been added to the conversation surrounding the use of standardized tests as a measure of academic preparedness for college-bound high schoolers. In March, North Carolina will begin requiring all high school students to sit for three different diagnostic tests, chief among which is the ACT. Said to be more content-based than the SAT, the ACT is expected to be a better identifier of weaknesses in academics content areas. With its announcement, North Carolina begins a new era of testing that further reinforces the cultural significance placed on standardized tests. Furthermore, the announcement draws a clear distinction between what the state feels are the benefits of the ACT and the shortcomings of its counterpart. Jane Stancill of the News Observer writes about the ongoing debate and the changes that are set to take place.